Flooring-gage.



No. 699,664. Patented May l3, I902.

w. w. cmm.

FLOORING GAGE.

(Application filed May 31, 1901.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES INVENTEIFI WJJW wmw.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM W. ORIM, OF PEKIN, INDIANA.

FLOORING-GAGE.

$PECIEICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,664, dated May 13, 1902.

Application filed May 31,1901. Serial No. 62,474. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. (harm, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pekin in the county of WVashington and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Flooring and Ceiling Gages, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a flooring and ceiling gage, and has for its object the production of the device of this character which is simple and strong in construction and convenient in application. This object I attain by the structure which is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a side elevation of my improved gageand the manner of its application. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the center of the gage, and Fig. 3 is atransverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 looking toward the left.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

This gage is intended to be used to determine the proper width and thickness of lumber for floors or ceilings and also to determine the proper dimensions and locations of the tongues and grooves on the same.

1 represents a portion of the main bar of the gage, which is secured in any suitable manner into the lower portion of the headpiece 2, the bar being of any desired length. The headpiece is provided with an opening or socket 3 above the main bar, in which is removably secured the female die 1. This die has in its inner face the groove 5, which is of the exact dimension of the tongue which it is desired to form on the lumber.

In Fig. 1, 6 represents a section through a board to which my gage is applied, showing the tongue 7 fitting into the groove 5 of the female die. lVhen applied in this manner, the surface of the board next to the main bar of the gage should lie in close contact therewith throughout its entire width. In order that it may be more easily seen whether or not such contact is secured, I form that surface of the main bar next to the board so that its center projects above the sides, thus forming a sharp edge, as shown at 8 in Fig. 3. The female die is held in position by means of a set screw 9, which passes through a threaded opening in the upper part of the headpiece 2. In order to determine when the board is of the proper thickness, I either clamp between the set-screw 8 and the female die or secure to said die a plate 10, which projects beyond the die over the edge of the board when the gage is in position.

Sliding loosely and yet not too freely upon the main bar is the tailpiece 11, which carries the male die 12, the tongue 13 of which is directly in line with the groove 5 of the female die. This die is also held in position by means of a set-screw 14, which passes through a threaded opening in the upper part of the tailpiece. To preserve the male die from binding upon the main bar, so that it cannot be moved when desired, I extend a partition 15 through the socket in the tailpiece above the main bar against which the die is held by its set-screw. The male and female dies are made of varying sizes to correspond with the different thicknesses of lumber to be finished, and a set of said dies is furnished with the gage. As will be understood from Fig. 1, when it is desired to finish a board to a certain thickness the dies corresponding to that thickness are inserted in the head and tail piece. The board is then planed until it not only fits exactly between the edge 8 of the main bar and the plate 10, but until the tongue and groove fit the female and male dies, respectively.

In order that the proper width of the board may be secured, I provide the main bar with a scale, as indicated at .16, and limit the inward movement of the tailpiece 11 with reference thereto. This movement is limited by a stop 17, which has a dovetailed tongue 18, filling in a corresponding groove 19 in the main bar, so that it may be slid along the scale and secured at any point by means ofa set-screw 20. p

It will be understood that the positions of the dies 4. and 12 may be reversed, the male die being carried by the headpiece and the female die by the tailpiece. The plate 10 may also be carried by the tailpiece, if desired, although I prefer to use it as shown.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a gage of the character described, a

ICO

main bar, a headpiece secured to said bar, said headpiece having a socket, a die which is mounted in said socket and is removable therefrom in the direction of the main bar, a tailpiece mounted to slide upon the main bar, a socket in said tailpiece in which the opposite die is mounted, said die being removable in the direction of the main bar, and means for securing said dies in said sockets.

the board, and means for holding the die and plate in position.

'3. In a gage of the character described, a main bar which has a groove throughout the greater part of its length, a headpiece secured to the main bar, a die secured to said headpiece a tailpiece sliding upon said main bar, a die carried by said tailpiece, anda stop adjustable in said groove to limit the movement of the tailpiece.

4. In a gage of the character described, a main bar, a headpiece secured to said bar, a die carried by said headpiece, a plate for gaging the thickness of the board resting against said die opposite the main bar, said plate being removably secured against said die in order that it may be usedwith dies -made for different thicknesses of boards, a

tailpiece slidingly mounted upon the main bar, a die carried by said tailpiece, and a stop adjustably secured to the main barfor limiting the movement of the tailpiece.

5'. In a gage of the character described, a

main bar provided with a scale and a dovetailed groove throughout the greater part of its length, a headpiece secured to said bar, a die carried by said headpiece, a tailpiece mounted for sliding upon the main bar, a die carried by said tailpiece, an adjustable stop having a dovetailed tongue resting in thegroove of the main bar, and a set-screw for fixing said stop in any position desired.

6. In a gage of the .character described, a

main bar which is thicker at its center than at one end, a socket in said headpiece, a female die projecting into said socket, a plate for gaging the thickness of the board resting upon the female die, a set-screw for securing the die and plate in the socket, a tailpiece mounted to slide on the main bar, a socket in the tailpiece, a male die projecting into said socket, apartition through the tailpiece separating the main bar and the male die, a set-screw securing the male die in its socket, an adjustable stop carried by said main bar and havinga dovetailed tongue entering the groove therein, and a set-screw for fixing the stop in any position desired.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

' \VILLIAM IV. CRIM.

-Witnesses:

EDWARD Hones,

LEROY HOBBS. 

